531Aussie

There are some sexy steel frames on here: https://www.smartcycles.com/frame_closeouts_list.htm (scroll down).

I'd have this is a second

DRietz

If $3250 is your budget for just the frame, and not the whole bike, Kent Eriksen's legendary custom titanium road frames start at $3050.

531Aussie

My two bob, and I'll try to keep it short:

As others have said, it's silly to assume that all steel bikes feel the same. I have a few old 531 frames, and a 2004 Cervelo Superprodigy made with Columbus Ultrafoco. The Cervelo has an oversized down tube, and kinda chunky seat stays. The Cervelo craps all over the 531s for stiffness and "feeling fast", which probably has a lot to do with the Cervelo's design, but it may have a bit to do with the fork!!!!

In my opinion, forks make a huge difference in the way a bike feels, and most people don't realize it. I've almost transformed some bikes by switching to stiffer forks with alu steerers. The Cervelo came with a 1" full-carbon Columbus Muscle, which was ok, but kinda flexy. When I switch the fork to a ITM Visia, it was almost like a different bike.

Another anecdote: my Cervelo once required a minor repair, so I took all the stuff off it, including the fork, and put it on my 1988 Raleigh 531. Well, wow! The 531 was also like a different bike, handling much stiffer and with more 'rail-like' steering.

So, when some of you steel haters are thinking about your slow-feeling, old 531 bikes, it might've had something to do with the bouncey, thin-bladed steel fork.

Incidentally, for the weight weenies, the tigged Cervelo frame is only ~190g lighter than my two lightest 531 lugged frames (1670g vs 1860g; 58cm).

Having said all that, while I love the springy feel off my steel Cervelo, i prefer to race on my stiffer aluminium bikes. As they say, ya can't underestimate the placebo effect.

Barrettscv 

Ti is not always better than steel in this price range. That is not a reflection on Kent or any other builder, it's just a recognition that steel offers benefits for certain riders and uses. I have both ti and steel and both have merit.

Paul Y.

Wow, my first bike was a 74 vista carrerra. Still a soft spot for that red dinosour.

DRietz

You are correct, but one of Kent's frames in this price is fantastic. His frames are amazing.

BengeBoy 

I can't believe I'm mentioning this, but -- from a "mass" point of view, Bikes Direct now has a relatively new lugged Reynolds 725 with Ultegra for $1499.

https://bikesdirect.com/products/moto...premio_pro.htm


I wonder who is making this frame for them? All of their other bikes come out of Asia; is there someone else importing complete bikes with lugged steel Reynolds 725 frames from Asia?

Soma has their imported lugged frames at inexpensive prices, but those are Tange Prestige, and sold as frames only.

ciocc_cat

Interesting Q&A at VeloNews about the exit of steel frames from the pro peleton, but why it remains for those who appreciate a bike with "soul".

https://velonews.competitor.com/2011/...changes_154889

Quote: "Steel makes for a lovely bike to ride. And while steel is real, carbon is really fast."

I won't disagree with that statement one bit.

gioscinelli 

This is the ultimate steel bike with lugs that knock your socks off!









Once I have the bike I will install Campagnolo Record C first generation, with brifters! That's the kind of bike that belongs in an art museum, not under your derriere. Now how can anyone compare TIG and Glue to Silver Soldering as pure craftsmanship!

Jed19

That, my friend, is too beautiful to ride.

Those kinda frames are meant to be mounted on a wall and admired.

Lightingguy

That's actually a nice looking bike and package. I may recommend this to a buddy who's looking for a no budget replacement for a 15 year old Klein TT bike (he needs a ROAD bike !)

As to the OP. I had a Heron Road, one of the Waterford lugged frames as designed by Grant and sold from Heron via mail order. I rode that bike for 10 years and would still have it except it was about 10mm too long in the TT. That was my fault as I didn't pay attention to effective TT with a frame that had an up-sloping TT.

During this period I also put a couple thousand miles on a Lemond titanium, that was a noodle in the bottom bracket, finally going to a cheapie carbon that rides great.

The Heron was replaced this past fall by a Soma Smoothie, that is a fantastic handling and riding bike. Feels the same as my Heron, a bit quicker handling as expected, but smooth. I see no difference between lugged and welded frames.

My problem though is I can pretty much ride anything, though the Lemond never got my blood flowing the way the Smoothie and Tomasso carbon do. I used to own Kleins and never had any issues with aluminum the way a buddy does - he's 140lbs, I'm 220, so that's a major difference. Bottom line is some folks feel the pea under the mattress. I don't.

SB